The Sabians (al-Sabi'un): origins, history, and religious identity

This research paper explores the enigmatic community of the Sabians (al-Ṣābiʾūn), a group mentioned three times in the Qur’an alongside Jews, Christians, and other confessional communities. The study traces their origin, scriptural references, and classical Islamic interpretations, before turning to their historical development through the Harranian and Mandaean traditions. It discusses their survival into the modern era, particularly through the Mandaean community in Iraq and Iran, and evaluates whether they may be considered recipients of a divine revelation. Drawing on primary Islamic sources and modern scholarship, the paper argues that the Sabians served as a flexible category in Islamic legal and theological discourse, used to incorporate different minority groups into the People of the Book framework. The research concludes that while the Qur’an’s Sabians remain elusive, their historical manifestations provide valuable insights into Islamic conceptions of religious diversity.